Jean-Philippe Lebeau achieved an incredible feat on June 27 on the linear park the P’tit Train du Nord. The ultra-marathoner ran the 201 kilometres linking Mont-Laurier to Saint-Jérôme in 21 hours and 51 minutes, breaking the record established in 2015 by Jean Labedan, the first to have succeeded in making this continuous run in 27 hours and 47 minutes.

There were others, too. Several people launched themselves at personal challenges this spring after the cancellation of virtually all the sporting events. An endurance-sports enthusiast, Jean-Philippe Lebeau, high-school teacher, was the fifth runner to attempt this experience this summer.

“I grew up in Saint-Jérôme and the P’tit Train du Nord was my playground. This 200-km-long corridor had always fascinated me,” says the 40-year-old runner.

A light in the darkness

5:42 p.m.: Jean-Philippe launches himself onto the P’tit Train du Nord beside his brother Francis Lebeau, who is also a runner. A storm had just given way to fading sunshine and it looked like a long night.

The presence of Francis, who ended up running with his brother for the first 102 kilometres – which is a lot! – helped to reassure the endurance runner who was a bit nervous about this first part of the run in the full dark of night. “It didn’t really appeal to me a whole lot to spend the night alone,

” Jean-Philippe confides. “Francis was super and he stopped his run at the La Conception corner. Once I got to Mont-Tremblant, I was in known territory. My legs were going really well and I was confident about the rest.”

Ultra solidarity

A few days before Jean-Philippe’s run another runner, Alexandre Benoit, tried to meet the challenge completely independently on this course, which is sanctioned by the organization Fastest Known Time. Even though Alexandre had to abandon his attempt, Jean-Philippe contacted him to congratulate him.

”He told me that the record was mine to take and offered to follow me in a car to ensure that I’d have the needed refreshment. It inspired me a lot,” says Jean-Philippe. “There’s a great deal of solidarity in the world of ultra-distance.”

Facing the storm

Between Saint-Adèle and Prévost, a storm surprised Jean-Philippe and battered him mercilessly. The rain was cold and the wind didn’t let up, which meant that the runner arrived at Prévost in a state of hypothermia. Alexandre and Francis anticipated his needs and made sure that the runner could make a complete change of clothing and start off again dry.

”I had mini-spasms all over my legs,” says Jean-Philippe. “They were in a state of shock.”

The final kilometres

Fourteen kilometres from the finish line, Valérie Houde, Jean-Philippe’s spouse, joined him and then Bob, a friend, joined them to run the final eight kilometres together.

”It was crazy. Just hearing my girlfriend talk to me did me good. She asked me what I most felt like having or doing. Honestly, I just wanted to sit down and play in the park with my baby, to watch the baby play, nothing else,” he states.

The return to civilization was very emotional. At the level of the boulevard des Hauteurs, in Saint-Jérôme, Jean-Philippe had to push the pedestrian button at the traffic lights to be able to cross. He only had three kilometres to go. “I hadn’t seen a car for more than twenty hours,” he notes.

“When I saw the steeple of the cathedral, and knew that the finish was close, I had chills all over. When I crossed the finish line, my daughters, my girlfriend, my brother and Alexandre were with me, and I dissolved in tears. I will be eternally grateful to my body for providing me with this endurance,” Jean- Philippe concludes.